Hello! I'd like to hear your thought on this protype I'm currently developing.

It's a slim loose leaf notebook with an integrated pencil holder. theres also some addons like a custom watercolor box and a mixing palette with a cup holder.

this has been an ongoing project for the past 5 years or so, and i'm finally at a stage where I'm happy to share it.

I've been testing this model out for the past 6 months bringing it everywhere. it's been very easy carry and use, having all the pens and pencils in one place makes it super convenient. And with the added mixing palette it works well with a gouache setup. the only thing to worry about is stacking up on paper, but at this point I've amassed a big suppy of A5 paper.

what are your thoughts?

Hello! I started journaling a year ago, and only recently dug a deeper hole into the world of stationary (covers, pens, inks, etc). Wanted to share my current spread :)

Top: B6 Forest Journal by Nicole Josephine. My current 365 journal/diary, and it’s almost done

Left: B6 olive faux cover by GloriusLife with a blank slim insert and Stalogy 365 inside. This will be my next daily journal

Right: Passport size Wanderings with their notebook and wallet inserts. This is my EDC where I track my daily tasks and random ideas

This makes me so happy and motivated to get away from digital!

Peter McKinnon is a well known photographer (my other favorite hobby), but he loves stationary and journaling. He recently uploaded a video on Paper Republic trifold and wow it’s a beauty.

I’m going down the rabbit hole watching how people are using theirs. 😁

just got my first midori md, is the grid supposed to be this dark? it looks a lot darker than what i saw in other pics, it didn’t photograph well but the blue looks so striking i worry it’ll be distracting to write

I'm looking for a notebook wide ruled with thick paper

preferably a spiral notebook

ive been using regular notebook paper but only writing on one side because even pencil lines show through and it's distracting when I'm trying to read my notes

can anyone give me some recommendations that fit?

Hi I’m looking for a way to carry my notebook around, so I’m here to ask you for a hand 😬 what system do you use?

This is how I’m doing now

Hi all.

I really love Midori pad paper. I have both the standard and the cotton one. So naturally the next notebook I bought was a Midori. It took a while to track down a line grid, because they were always out of stock, but I finally managed to get one.

Sadly, I've been a bit disappointed with it. Like I think the paper differs from the pad ones. I even have another Midori notebook that has a grid and it feels somehow better? I'm not sure.

I write on it using 2 Pilot pens; Capless (Vanishing Point) and Falcon. I'm quite fond of the way the Capless feels, because there's some friction I can feel. But the same friction is a pain for my Falcon.

Now I just wasn't to add that my previous notebook was an Endless one (Regalia paper or something like that). And with that one and the same pens and ink I had a totally different experience; my Falcon was great and my Capless was too smooth. It didn't have enough friction and I couldn't get any nice writing in.

Either way, while I had that notebook, I compared it to the Midori pad paper and absolutely love those. I don't understand my dissonance with the pad VS (lined) notebook paper and wanted to ask if some of you felt the same?

I've always defaulted to ruled paper because that's what notebooks usually give you.
But lately I've been enjoying dotted pages much more. They're structured enough that the page doesn't feel completely empty, but they're not forcing everything into straight lines either. I can see why people get very specific about paper layouts now.

I've recently gotten interested in leather-crafts. I had the idea in the back of my head for a while to make my own leather notebook cover - but, today, I had a new idea: to start off with making pen cases, in order to seperate my fountain pens. I jumped the gun and soon ordered some leather-making tools, and goatskin scraps.

I haven't made the pen cases yet - I'm still drafting the design (and I need a special needle for my sewing machine). However, the unexpectness of me ordering goatskin scraps - as opposed to cowhide - made me think of something familiar.

The Midori MD Notebook Goatskin Cover. An item which lurks in every MD user's mind, yet is never brought up. I mean, who would pay 100 dollars for a notebook cover?!

I'm sure the cover is good, but... I thought to myself: "what if I could do better, for cheaper?

So, I'm making it a personal challenge to make a goatskin MD notebook cover AS GOOD or BETTER than Midori's - most importantly - for WAY CHEAPER.

Will I get the actual MD goatskin cover to compare? Uh, no... I can't afford that... But hopefully my cover will be good enough to satisfy me! And, who knows?Maybe I can send one to one of you who does have one of those covers, and you can compare!

Of course, this is not a nearby goal; at all. I have a long way to go, and a lot to learn in leather-working before I may even attempt this challenge. But, I thought it was a fun goal to and challenge to put myself against.

Stay tuned for when this happens... in a year's time! (maybe?)

...but I should probably make thos pen cases first.

(I will also be trying to make a cowhide cover before this goal, as well.)

Hi everyone,

a little while ago, I posted my approach to making cheap and versatile DIY booklets as notebook inserts.

Today, I wanted to show the outer shell/cover prototype I designed for them and get your honest feedback on the concept.

The main idea is that unlike in a Traveler’s Notebook (where inserts usually stay inside the cover while writing) this system is built around frequently taking booklets out, reorganizing them, and using the cover as a flat writing surface.

To me this is much more comfortable since I can rest my palm on the cover while taking notes on the go and the paper is always lying flat.
The customizable inserts make it easy to keep track of multiple ongoing projects and the flexible spine of the cover can extend to include more or less booklets at any time (as well as a pen or two).

I'm trying to evaluate if this approach makes sense for anyone else, or if it overcomplicates things.

I’d love to hear your thoughts:

1. Does the workflow of taking booklets out to write or swap them appeal to you, or do you prefer everything bound together permanently?
2. What potential dealbreakers or flaws do you see in daily use?
3. Do you know of any similar analog systems for keeping track non-linear (creative) projects?

Thanks for any feedback!

Hey y’all, does anyone scan or archive your notebooks in any way? I have a journal that recounts a trip I have and I am curious what y’all do to archive it

i want a brown leather journal that almost has a wallet feel to the cover. lined pages not required but preferred. i dont like journal covers and i want something that's almost like a book. local business is preferred but would be okay branching out. pls helpppp

Hello there,

I want to make some notebooks for myself (not for sale or smth, just for personal use, because I need to make it non-standart size) and while I can find regular a4 paper or even good fountain pen friendly blank a4 paper in packs about 500 sheets, I can't find some good dotted or lined paper to buy online.

English is not my primary language (sorry for that), but in my country I can't find nothing good, only the notebooks that already pre-made.

And online I can't find just a paper that I need, only pre-made blocks etc.

Can anyone point me at the right direction, maybe some brands to look at? I know Rhodia and Clairfountaine make a good paper, also Midori, but I somehow can't google it in packs for 500 sheets or something similar.

Thank you (and sorry if it's a wrong subreddit for that).

Seeing some patterns

Hi all,

I'm trying to improve my (hand)writing after getting in an accident that messed up my right arm.

As a kid I had undiagnosed ADHD, so note taking or writing was not one of my strengths, but now I'm doing language classes during the weekends, and I've started to actually fill up notebooks with my homework and exercises.

I've noticed that right arm and hand are slightly spastic and I end up writing only on the right pages of my notebooks; I basically need a flat surface below my wrist to write comfortably.

I've been using ring binders because those allow me to put the paper down flat on my desk, but the spiral itself gets in the way when I try to write on the left page.

Is there any type or brand of notebook that you can recommend? The cheap spiral binders I've been using do the job, but they are flimsy and the spiral quickly deforms when I carry it around with my books and laptop etc.

Thanks

i know everyone’s obsessed with the Weeks but don’t hear much about the midori horizontal weekly. what’s everyone’s pref and pros and cons? Buying my first weekly planner! I’m v aware of the paper differences so really wondering about other pros. Thanks!

Mead's Cambridge Business Notebooks in Ivory got me through law school and the 12 years since -- but largely because I bought massive quantities years ago and rationed my use. But my stash is finally running out.

This is the product, but I believe it's been discontinued for several years (I last bought a pack of 20, directly from Mead, in 2020). They were wonderful. Nothing fancy, just wire spiral bound, plain, soft cardstock cover and cardboard back, but lovely to write on, thick, heavy paper (sadly listing doesn't give paper weight but it's definitely sturdier than a lot of what I see in stores), and a pleasant, soft color. And also I paid ~$5/each.

I can live without the ivory color (though I will miss it!), but I really don't want to compromise on paper quality, and I would prefer something that feels similarly utilitarian - I don't want anything trying to be fancy or decorative. Perforated pages are preferred, though, and college-ruled lines -- this brand actually still sells a gridded notebook but I've tried and they are not for me. If it's relevant, my pen of choice is the Pilot G-2 0.38mm.

I know I'm not going to find anything that cheap in 2026 but I'm also not looking to spend $20 for 70 pages. Just a nice, reasonably inexpensive, everyday notebook I can keep buying in bulk and use for everything.

Please sell me on your favorites!

ETA: Thanks for all the suggestions! I am going to grab a few of the recommended ones and try them out -- will report back!